Cops were in pursuit of 13 yr old on dirt bike. He crashed and died

[Demovictory9]

https://www.newser.com/story/314986/family-of-teen-killed-on-dirt-bike-wants-answers-from-fla-cops.html

[ItsjustMe]

1. 13-Year-Old Boy Dies in Dirt Bike Crash as Cops Try to Pull Him Over

[Deuxcents]

2. I can't .. I just can't anymore

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. FTP. ACAB.

[LisaM]

4. I need more information before I judge.

The kid is not old enough to be driving on the street, but is filling up on gas and then (by all appearances from this short clip) illegally takes a dirt bike onto a street with traffic and pedestrian crossings and starts driving too fast and (maybe) does a U-turn and looks as if he's driving with complete disregard for anyone else. The police are chasing him, but it appears that they have some justification (it's only a few weeks since the police took heat for NOT apprehending a driver in Wisconsin who drove onto the sidewalk). Were the police supposed to just watch while an underage driver zoomed around in a reckless manner where he was bound to hurt someone?

I need more information. Why on earth is a 13-year old just driving around on the street and what should the police have done? They didn't seem particularly aggressive pulling out of the gas station, but clearly they needed to stop him.

Maybe there is more to it, but the police seem justified in trying to get him off the road.

[Sympthsical]

6. I see two potentially reckless things

On the gas station video, he leaves to the left, then comes back going the wrong way in the far lane. Then it seems like he ran a red light to make a left turn. You can't see the lights, but the traffic perpendicular to him when he enters the intersection is just cruising through it, and the police slow as they approach the intersection to pursue.

So, I think maybe there was cause for the police to pull him over. Certainly by that point in the pursuit, he was breaking laws and being reckless.

I'm sure we'll get more info and dash cam. But based on the short gas station video, a run red light and going the wrong way would be justifications for me.

The question is, "How did this start? What prompted this?" Because by the time the video below begins, it seems like the police were already after him.

Link to tweet

It's very tragic he died. But I don't think summoning for pitchforks without facts being provided is responsible.

[LisaM]

7. Thank you.

I just don't see that we have all the information we need but the situation seemed dangerous without interference.

They could have been going after him for not being old enough to drive. And I have no idea if dirt bikes are allowed on the street, either.

On edit - it appears that they may not be street legal, according to an article I found. Here's a snip.

And maybe the biggest point here: Dirt bikes—other than dual-sport bikes—are not legal on the roads. Don’t ride your dirt bike down your street or on your sidewalk or in an alley or through a parking lot. Anyone who rides a dirt bike in any of these areas is a bad neighbor, an even worse representative of the sport, and is breaking the law.

https://www.dirtrider.com/state-laws-for-dirt-bikes/

[Sympthsical]

8. I was curious about that, too

I don't know anything about dirt bikes or what Florida laws are. So, I don't know if what he was driving was street legal.

If his dirt bike is not street legal, I mean that's pretty much cause enough right there. He glanced to his right, saw the police coming at him, and took off.

I think it's weird that none of the news articles I've read say - and I did look for it.

[BlackSkimmer]

12. A 13 year old has no business on streets or highways. nt

[SYFROYH]

5. Thats a damn shame.

Hopefully the investigation will reveal more about any police culpability.

[alphafemale]

9. He was an obvious danger to himself and others.

I am against police stops for traffic violations when it can be done by mail except in cases of this level of recklessness.

[MichMan]

10. Who does a ticket get sent by mail go to if there are no license plates?

I understand your point, but that would mean anyone driving without plates couldn't be stopped for traffic violations.

[XanaDUer2]

11. Who are the parents or guardians? Nt

[SYFROYH]

13. BBPD Pursuit Policy

I have to credit WhiskeyGrinder for making me look this up. It does appear that the BBPD has a very high standard for vehicular pursuit which the 13-year motorcyclist didn't trigger.

I'm all for not pursuing over paperwork like an expired tag or minor violations like a busted taillight, but a minor driving on the road is a danger to self and others. I don't know how any moving traffic stop could happen if this is the only relevant policy.

Still, the BBPD appears to have overstepped with this pursuit according to their policy.

https://public.powerdms.com/BBPDE/documents/81354
III. PURSUIT POLICY
The decision to initiate pursuit must be based on the pursuing officer’s conclusion that the immediate danger to the officer and the public created by the pursuit is less than the immediate or potential danger to the public Boynton Beach Police Department should the suspect remain at large. The pursuit must be conducted in a non-reckless manner with emphasis on the safety of the public, human rights and the property of others.

Vehicular pursuits will be initiated only if the officer reasonably believes that the person(s) fleeing has committed a forcible felony defined as:
1. Murder (as defined in FS 782);
2. Manslaughter (as defined in FS 782);
3. Sexual Battery (as defined in FS 794);
4. Carjacking (as defined in FS 812);
5. Home Invasion Robbery (as defined in FS 812);
6. Robbery (as defined in FS 812);
7. Arson (as defined in FS 806);
8. Kidnapping (as defined in FS 787);
9. Serious Aggravated Assault/Battery (as defined in FS 784); and/or
10. Discharging of a Destructive Device or Bomb (as defined in FS 790).

Any pursuit must be conducted in accordance with this directive and only those officers who have received instructional training in the high-speed pursuit policy will engage in a vehicular pursuit.

[cinematicdiversions]

14. But was it really a high speed pursuit?

Seems like they were just following him as he flew in and out of traffic.

[SYFROYH]

15. I'm not sure how high-speed vs non-high-speed pursuits are defined.

From the definitions section:

II. DEFINITIONS
Vehicle Pursuit: An active and continuing effort by an officer in an authorized emergency vehicle to apprehend the occupant(s) of a moving vehicle, provided the driver of such vehicle who is or should be aware of the attempt being made, increases his/her speed, takes other evasive actions, or refuses to stop in an attempt to avoid apprehension.

There isn't a definition for high-speed pursuit in this policy.